Switch for arc-lamps



Patented luly 5, |898.

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limitan STaTns PATnNT Carien.

CHARLES A. PFLUGER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SWITCH FOR ARC=LAV PS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 606,939, dated July 5, 1898.

Application tiled December 2l, 1896. SeriallNo. 616,447. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. PFLUGER, a citizen ot the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain Improvements in Switches for Arc-Lamps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to switches for electric circuits, and has 'for its object to provide a new and improved switch, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a plan view of a switch embodying my invention with the cover removed. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the parts difterently disposed. Fig. 3 is a section on line 3 3 of Fig. 1 with the cover in place. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the switch. Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view showing the manner of attaching the handle to the cover` of the switch.

Like letters refer to like parts throughout the several igures.

As illustrated in the drawings, the switch is placed within a box A, having a cover A'. The switch is provided with the four terminals B, C, D, and E, to which are connected the wires B', C', D', and E', leading from the switch. The terminals of the switch are attached to a block F of insulating materialsuch, for example, as slate-and the wires leading 'from the terminals are provided with the insulating-bushing F'. The terminals B and E are preferably provided with the ordinary spring-hngers, between which are forced the arms C2 D2, connected, respectively, with the terminals C and D. The arms C2 and D2 are provided at their adjacent ends with the projections G GC An operating-arm H is pivoted at the point H and is adapted to engage the projections G and G on the arms C2 D2. This controlling-arm H is provided with a coil-spring H2, said coil-spring being connected at one end with the arm and at the other with a stationary part and normally tending to torce the arm into the position shown in Fig. 2, the further movement of the arm being prevented by the stop H2. The terminals C and D are provided with the springs C3 D5, said springs being connected at one end to the terminals and being free at the other end, such tree ends so positioned as to make contact with the controlling-arm H when said arm is in the position shown in Fig. l. Said springs C8 and I)s are heldin the proper position by engagement with the stops C4 and D4. The cover A of the box A is provided with an operating-handle A2, said handle being connected to the piece A2, projecting through the cover of the box, said piece being provided with the finger A4, said iinger being insulated from the part A3. This projection A4 is so positioned as to engage the controlling-arm H and operate it when the operating-handle A2 is moved.

I prefer to have the switch inclosed, so as to be waterproof, and have shown in Fig. 5 a construction by which the operating-handle is connected to the cover so as to prevent moisture from entering. As shown in this iignre, the cover is provided with the upwardlyprojecting ring I, over which iits the cap I2, the ring I being cut away or formed so as to form the washer or packing I3, to be interposed between said ring and the cap I2. The operating-handle A2 is provided with a hole vand is slipped upon the part A3, being held in place by means of the screw I4. The position of the switch is shown by means of a pointer I5, placed upon the operating-handle, the cover being provided withfthe words On and Off, as shown in Fig. 4, or with some similar indicating-marks, the condition of the switch being shown by the position of the pointer I5.

I have described the several parts oi my switch in detail; but it is evident that these vparts may be varied in form, construction,

and arrangement without departing from the spirit of my invention, for I have only endeavored to show one form of my invention, so as to make the explanation clear. I therefore do not wish to be limited to the form, construction, and arrangement of the switch as herein shown and described. I also provide a gasket or packing P, which is inserted between the lid and the remainder of the box, so as to make a waterproof connection. The insulating-bushings are also provided with packing, the whole bon being waterproof, so that the switch is in no manner affected by exposure to the weather.

T ie use and operation of my invention are as follows: It is of course evident that this switeh @an be used in any manner desired. The switch is partienlarly adapted for eirenits to which it is desired to add and subtract other circuits-as, for example, in the ease of are-lamps. its illustrated in the drawings, the main eirenit is eonneeted with the terminals C and l), and when the switch is in the position shown in Fig. l the main eireuit is Completed through the arm ll. The branch eirenit is eonneeiied to the 'terminals 'i3 and lil. lVhen it is desired to ent in the braneh eirenit, the operating-handle if is moved so that the indieatingdinger li points to the word Qn. rlhe movement of this operatingdiandie causes the linger Al' to engage the arm ll and move it to the position shown in Fig. This movement et the arm ll eauses the arms U3 and D2 to be moved so to eonneet the tern'iinals ll and il and D and lil, as shown in liig. 'lhe switeh so eonstrneted that the eirenit is Completed through` the terminals l5 and E before it broken between the terminals (l and D, thereby preventing a spark at the terminals l and is the arm H moves so as te foree the arms U? and D? in Contact with their opposed tern'iinals, the eontaet with the arms C and l)2 is not broken nntil after said arms malle eontaet with the terminals ll and ll. After said arms UY and D? are foreed into eontaet with their opposed terminals the arm ll, whieh at this peint is in eontaet with the projections G G', is released from said preyieetionfii and is suddenly moved in Contact with the stop l l, as shown in hip. E?, by means of the spring,` ll?. it will therefore be seen that l have here a switeh whieh ents in the bra-neh eirenit bel'ore the main eireuit is opened and whieh also instantly breaks the main eirenit, thereby forming a quieli-breali switch and avoiding` injurious sparks. When it is desired to ent ont the ln'aneh eireuit, the arm A2 is moved until the pointer his opposite the word O il. l) uringthis moven'ient the linger ri engages the arm li and moves it into engagement with the arms C? D?, the ends oi the arm .ll passing between the projections G G. The l'nrther movement ofthe Controlling-handle brings the ends of the arm ll in Contact with lthe spring Ul DE, ai' the same time moving the arms and D2 so as to disengage them Jfrom the terminals ll and lt. rlhe parts are so arranged that the ends oi' the arm ll make goed eontaetwith the springs C Di before the branch eirenit Vis broken, thereby Completing the main eil-enit bel'ore there is any break, thns preventing` injurious sparks.

lt will be seen that l have here a switeh having; many advantages and which may be used lfor .many dil'i'erent purposes.

My switeh is particularly adapted to be placed outside oli' buildings, as it is weatherprooi' and the switch so eonstrueted as to eliminate any element oi danger in the maliing` and breaking` of: the eirenits.

l claimi. A switeh For eleeirie eirenits, Comprising four terminals divided into two pairs, an arm assoeiated with eaeh pair el? terminals and adapted to eonneet the terminals ol the :respeetive pairs together, a eendneting,r eontrolf ling-arm loeated between lhe pairs el;` termi nais and adapted to beeome part oi the eirenit at predetermined times, said controllingarm adapted to operatively engage said arms when in a predetermined position and move them both into and ont ol.` eontaet with their opposed terminals.

2. A switch Comprising' lour terminals, two of which are adapted to be eonneeted with the main eirenit and two with the braneh eirenit, arms assoeiated. with the main-Circuit termi nals and adapted 'to eonneet them with one of the braneh-eirenit terminals, a eoi'itrollingrarm between the main-eirenit terminals and said arms, but free therefrom, said eontrolling-arm adapted when in a prede Verlnined position to eleetrieally eonneet the main tei minals together, said eontrolling,` arm also adapted to operatively engage the arms assi eiated with the main-eirenit terminals and move them in either direetion, so as to diseonneet oreonneet eaeh main-eirenit terminal with its asseeiated ln'aneh-eireuit terminal, the parts so eonstrneted that the eonneetion between the main-eirenit and braneh-eirenit terni in als is completed before the eontrollingarm beeomes rlif-'e.iigaged from said arm, so as to diseonneet the nn'iin-eirenit terminalfei,

3. A switeh comprisingr tonr terminals, two of; whieh are adapted to be eenneeted with the main eirenitand two with the ln'aneh ein enit, an arm associated with eaeh of; the maineirenit terminals and adapted to eenneet it with one of the lnaneh-eirenit terminals, ay Controlling-arm between the main-eirenijt terminals and adapted when in a predetermined position to eleetrieally eonneet them together, said controlling-arm adapted to (meratively engage said arms and move them so as te diseonneet the main-circuit terminals l'roni the respeetive braneh-eirenit terminals.

li. A switeh eomprising two maizineirenit terminals,braneheireuitterminals ssiiieiated therewith, an arm assoeial ed with eaeh olj said main-eireuit terniiinals and adapted. when in predetermined positions to eonneet the main-- eirenitsterminals with the braneh-eirenit ter n1inals,eaeh of said arms provided at one end with projeetions, a eontrolling-arni interino-- dia-te between said main-eirenit term inals and adapted when in a predetermhied position te engage said projections, a springepieee affiso- Ciated with eaeh ol.' said main-eireuit liermi nais, and adapted to engage said eontrolliinrarm when said arm is Vin a predetermined position, thereby eenneeling; the main-eirenit terminals, said eonln'ollin ;-arm adapted to eontrol the position el:` the arms assoeiated with the main-circuit terminals by means oi' its engagement with said projet-tiens se as to make or breal; said braneh eirenit, the parts so arranged that the braneh eirenit Vis eem- IOO TIO

pleted before the main circuit is broken and is not broken until after the main circuit is completed.

5. A switch comprising two main-circuit terminals,branch-circuit terminals associated therewith, an arm associated with each of said main-circuit terminals and adapted when in predetermined positions to connect the maincircuit terminals with the branch-circuit terminals, each of said arms provided at one end with projections, a controlling-arm intermediate between said main-circuit terminals and adapted when in a predetermined position to engage said projections, a spring-piece associated with each of said main-circuit terminals, and adapted to engage said controllingarm when said arm is in a predetermined position, thereby connecting the main-circuit terminals, said controlling-arm adapted to control the position of the arms associated with the main-circuit terminals by means of its engagement with said projections so as to make or break said branch circuit, the parts so arranged that the branch circuit is completed before the main circuit is broken and is not broken until after the main circuit is completed, a box completely inclosing said switch and insulated therefrom, an operatinghandle outside of the box and connected with said controlling-arm, an indicating-finger associated with said handle, indicating-points on the box adapted to show the condition of the switch, said indicating-points and indicating-iinger so positioned that the inger shows the condition of the switch.

6. A switch comprising two main-circuit terminals,branch-circuit terminals associated therewith, an arm associated with each of said main-circuit terminals and adapted when in predetermined positions to connect the maincircuit terminals with the branch-circuit terminals, each of said arms provided at one end with projections, a controlling-arm intermediate between said main-circuit terminals and adapted when in a predetermined position to engage said projections, a spring-piece associated with each of said main-circuit terminals and adapted to engage said controllingarm when said arm is in a predetermined position, thereby connecting the main-circuit terminals, said controlling-arm adapted to control the position of the arms associated with the main-circuit terminals by means Of its engagement with said projections so as to make or break said branch circuit, the parts so arranged that the branch circuit is completed before the main circuit is broken and is not broken until after the main circuit is completed, a spring associated with said controlling-arm and adapted to move it suddenly at the point where the main-circuit terminals are disconnected thereby suddenly breaking the circuit, a box completely inclosing said switch so as to makeit weatherproof, and being insulated from the parts of said switch, a controlling arm or handle projecting through said boxand provided with a finger which engages said controlling-arm, but which is unconnected therewith.

7. A switch comprising four terminals, two of which are adapted to be connected with the main circuit and two with the branch circuit, arms associated with the main-circuit terminal and adapted to connect it with one of the branch-circuit terminals, a controllingarm between the main circuit terminals adapted when in a predetermined position to connect them together but adapted to be moved so as to disconnect the main-circuit terminals,said controlling-arm being connected with the arms associated with the maincircuit terminals so as to move them and connect each main-circuit terminal with its associated and branch-circuit terminal, the parts so constructed that the connection between the main-circuit and branch-circuit terminals is completed before the main-circuit terminals are disconnected, a box entirely inclosing said switch mechanism, an operating-handle connected with a piece which projects through the box and engages said controllingarm, said piece free from said controlling-arm and provided with a water-tight joint which prevents the admission of moisture to the switch.

8. The combination with a switch mechanism of an inclosing box or case, an operating part projecting through the case and provided with a handle by which the switch mechanism is controlled, a projecting ring on said box surrounding said operating part, a cap-piece surrounding said controlling part and projecting downwardly over said ring, a gasket or packing surrounding said operating part and interposed between said cap and ring so as to make the joint water-tight, said cap being held in position by means of the operating-handle.

9. A switch for electric circuits comprising four terminals divided into two pairs, an arm associated with each pair of terminals and adapted to connect the terminals of the respective pairs together, a controlling-arm located between the pairs of terminals but free therefrom, said controlling-arm adapted to operatively en gage said arms associated with the pairs of terminals and move them both into and out of contact with their opposed terminals and an operating-arm free from said controlling-arm but adapted to engage the same when in a predetermined position.

10. A switch for electric circuits comprising four terminals divided into two pairs, an arm associated with each pair of terminals and adapted to connect the terminals ofthe respective pairs together, a controlling-arm located between the arms associated with said terminals but free therefrom, each of said arms provided with projecting parts so positioned as to be operatively engaged by said controlling-arm whereby said arms are positively moved into and out of contact with their respective opposed terminals by the movement of said controlling-arm.

ICO

IOS

IIO

Io adapted te pass between the two projecting,I

parte` on erich ci said zirins and operatively engage one of mid projecting partey when moved in either direction, so :is to nieve seid :irme to disconnect and connect the tivo pairs of terminals.

CHARLES A. liflil'GlClt. ll'ritnesses:

DoNAJLD M. Uiiit'iiim, ,IiP-limiti. U. Sms. 

